Earlier this month, 5-month-old Ellen was living on the streets of Fresno, California — a stray dog without a friend in the world. By the time a local shelter picked her up, her health was so poor that the director there reached out to Shirley Zindler of the Dogwood Animal Rescue Project for help.

"She was very weak and suffering from a terrible case of mange, malnutrition and was covered in sores and wounds from many, many foxtails piercing her skin and causing infection and abscesses," Zindler told The Dodo. "She was truly a sad, sick little girl."

Zindler, a seasoned animal rescuer, was shocked by Ellen's condition after bringing her home.

"The sight of her and the stench of infected skin was horrifying," Zindler said. "Her skin was so raw that there was almost no place we could touch her without hurting her. Even her ears were full of foxtails."

Though Ellen might have felt that things would never improve, her rescuers knew she was worth saving.

"She was given a medication to kill the mites causing the mange, and antibiotics to help her fight the infection. She gets daily medicated baths to help soothe and heal her skin and a slow refeeding schedule to help her body adapt to processing quality food again," Zindler said. "And she gets a lot of love and attention for her emotional well-being. Animals and people cannot thrive without feeling safe and cared for."

Ellen still has a ways to go before her body heals completely, and a fresh coat of fur fills in the spots where her coat's still patchy — but the sparkle in her eyes suggests her broken heart has been quicker to mend. And with adoption offers already rolling in, her future has never looked better.

"We're extremely hopeful for a full recovery and wonderful life for her," Zindler said.